Please consider taking one of the following LAF casesFor more information or to volunteer to take a case please contact Jason Leong, LAF Volunteer Coordinator, 850.702.5009 or Jason@tallahasseebar.org.

Case 1 – Child Support Modification Male Client got divorced and child support was set up based on an income of $18/hr. He stated that he has not made this much in the last 3-4 years; the most he has made is $15/hr. His employment has been on and off over the last few years. He was laid off in January and is currently unemployed. He is seeking full-time work in the electrical field. He does not currently have an open case; he has tried to file the necessary paperwork on his own, but he has been unsuccessful. His ex-wife is not currently represented.

Case 2 – Custody Modification: Female Client is seeking a modification of the custody arrangement for her 9 year old daughter. She does not think the child's father is represented by an attorney. She stated that he is currently in the Bay County Correctional Facility for 18 months for a violation of probation charge because he left the county and got into a fight. There are several months left in his sentence. Client has been to court about this previously and has also been through mediation. Prior to the child's father going to prison, the child was with him every other weekend and every other holiday, as well as every other week during the summer. The mother wants to modify the arrangement until the father is able to prove himself. She complained about his drinking and fights with his girlfriend. The father has been to jail more than once. Client wants to deal with the custody issue before the father gets out of jail to avoid any violent altercations. Additionally, she stated that the father has been ordered to pay child support and refuses to do so.

Case 3 – Custody Modification: Male Client is looking to obtain partial custody of his two one-year-old children. The children's mother is an ex-girlfriend. A paternity test has established him as the father. He is seeking to have the children's names changed on their birth certificates, and he wants to sign them as the father. Client went through mediation and was supposed to have visitation rights with the children, but his ex has not complied. He is obligated to pay child support, but stopped making payments in December because he got in an accident. He is currently unemployed and since December, his child support payments have been taken out of his unemployment. He believes he owes $1500 in back-pay. There is not currently an open case.

Case 4 – Foreclosure: Male client is currently unemployed. He is receiving $1100/month in unemployment. He stopped paying the mortgage on his home last year. The bank refused to refinance. Client is unemployed and facing foreclosures on two properties. The foreclosures are the result of a divorce and his unemployment. He would like to have an attorney represent him on both foreclosures.

Case 5 – Name Change: Female client wants to change name and birth certificate. Nothing filed with court yet because she is waiting on an attorney.

Case 6 – Child Support Modification: Male client is currently ordered to pay child support for one child. He stopped paying due to his disability. His disability payments have been inconsistent. He stated that he cannot pay his bills and wants to have his child support payments reduced. He said that he has brought some paperwork into the office.

Case 7 – Child Support/Custody Modification: Male client has a one-year old daughter with his ex-girlfriend. They went through mediation in December. They agreed that visitation would alternate weekly, and this has not been a problem. They also agreed that she would pay him child support, but she has not. They also agreed to change the last name of the child to the father's name, but client’s ex has not complied with this either. The two were unable to agree about who the custodial parent will be, so a court date is set for March 27 court date. Client is employed full-time, as is the child's mother. He thinks there is currently an open case at DCF, but that they were unable to contact the mother. He does not know if she is currently represented by an attorney.

Case 8 – Landlord/Tenant: Something in apartment made female client ill. She moved in February and was sick by March. She had numerous trips to the hospital. She had to start using oxygen for respiratory problems. Every time she went home, she got sick again. The AC broke often, and she has pictures of the unit. A humidifier had to be put in her apartment. Management was aware that she was having problems but said nothing was wrong. Eventually she was hospitalized for 6 months. She moved from there to a nursing home. She is currently living with her son while looking for a place of her own. She is feeling much better now. She is seeking to be reimbursed for the rent she paid as well as damages for her medical bills.

Case 9 – Parenting Plan Modification: Male client, has a living coach. Client has one 6 year old son. The mother has an attorney. Client wasn't married to the mother and a paternity test adjudicated him the father. He sought welfare benefits from the state and DOR got the paternity test done, however client is disabled so he doesn't pay child support. Client is unemployed and receives SSI benefits. DCF isn't involved in case. Client has supervised visitation with his son for 2 hours on Saturdays. The mother of his son has a restraining order against him currently. He wants to have the supervised restriction removed, and to be able to pick his son up from his school.

Case 10 - Custody Modification: Female client is still interested in getting assistance from an attorney. She is seeking full custody of her 10 year old daughter, instead of the 50/50 shared custody arrangement she and her ex-husband currently have. She is not currently employed, but she is looking for work. Her ex works. They do not have a child support arrangement. Client wants to modify the custody arrangement because of an incident in 2011. She stated that her ex physically punished the child. Additionally, he had a conversation with his current wife that client believes was inappropriate in front of her daughter. They have been battling in court ever since. Mediation has been unsuccessful; the parents cannot agree. Client does not believe the child is in danger, but she is concerned about her well-being due to the father's anger. The child has been interviewed by DCF and the school social worker. Client claims that her daughter loves her father, but does not wish to live with him. Her mother would like an arrangement in which the father has visitation rights on the weekend while he gets help with anger management.

Contact LAF Volunteer Coordinator Jason Leong at 702-5009 or Jason@tallahasseebar.org to accept one of these cases or for more information.